Description
The SS100 Matchless (MX100) was launched to the public at the Olympia Motorcycle show in late 1935 and was to be the final series of the Brough Superior’s flagship ‘SS100’ model that had been in production since late 1924
The SS100 had proved an instant success due to its exceptional design and build quality, receiving great praise from the press and attracting high profile clients such as T. E. Lawrence, achieving considerable success in competition events and multiple speed/ world land speed records in the period, powered by the superb J. A. Prestwich 980/ 988cc V Twin motor
The new MX100 featured a 50 degree overhead valve version of the Matchless V Twin 986cc BS/ X2 engine, produced specifically for Brough Superior by Matchless, and as per the previous SS100 model, George Brough guaranteed every machine could lap Brooklands at 100mph solo, with a total of 102 examples built from 1936-40
Supplied to D. McCaughern May 1936, this is third example constructed by the works at Haydn Road and the works record denotes ‘SS100 – 1936 – Rigid frame with Castle forks, AMAL twin type carburettor, Lucas HF Alto horn, Smiths 120 MPH speedometer, Lycett Super Aero saddle and Lucas MSV Magdyno’ and the record shows the bike was despatched by passenger train on 9th May 1936 bearing the registration ‘AUP 237’, which it retains to the current day
The original buff log book on file denotes the next owner as Mr John Cyril Buttle of Johnson Road, Croydon on the 15th April 1946 before it was sold eighteen months later to Mr Henry Alfred Thompson of Oakfield Road, Penge, SE20 on 8th September 1947
The SS100 would then remain within the Thompson family for the next sixty three years! The Thompson’s had a strong passion for the marque and indeed owned a number of Brough’s including an SS80 and ‘Golden Dream’, the extremely rare four cylinder model.
On November 5th 1960 Henry Thompson gifted the SS100 to his son Phillip Ronald Thompson of aptly named ‘Broughs’ Broad Lane, Berks. Both father and son were amongst the first members of the Brough Superior Club following its formation in 1958 meaning this SS100 and its long term ownership has always been very well known to the Brough Club
In 2010 the SS100 was sold by the Thompson family to noted Brough collector Peter Lancaster of Sussex who would later restore this highly original example back to its former glory, its original engine fully rebuilt by ace Norton tuner Ron Lewis during the process. The SS100 was sold in 2018 to join another well known Brough Superior collection and we are delighted to offer this exceptional early MX100
